Fairytale finish for one of Australia's greatest racing car drivers

An iconic event on Australia's sporting calendar, the globally recognized race at Mt Panorama is considered one of motor-racing's toughest endurance battles -- and with difficult, hot conditions, last year's winner, David Reynolds, felt the pressure.

Leading for most of the race, the defending champ struggled with leg cramps and by lap 135 of the 161-lap race, Lowndes was able to pass Reynolds to snatch the win for the Holden Commodore ZB team and his co-driver, Steven Richards.

A devastated Reynolds told local media after the race, "It's probably the saddest day of my life, as far as my career goes I feel like it is."

"When I first jumped in the car for that first stint, the car was very, very hot, and I was whinging on the radio and I think that just dehydrated me," he said.

"And I was finding it very difficult to concentrate, all day it was very difficult to concentrate."